Wheel bearing packer



July 18, 1950 A. P. FOX ETAL 2,515,203

WHEEL BEARING PACKER Filed Nov. 5, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet '1 Fl Ila 3INVENTORS 4 R FOX and BY L. 6. Rarra? July 18, 1950 A. P. FOX ETAL2,515,203

' WHEEL BEARING PACKER Filed Nov. 5, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet z July 18, 1950A. P. FOX ETAL 2,515,203

WHEEL BEARING PACKER Filed Nov. 5, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS 4'2F01 80d L. (I ROTTER July 18, 1950 A. P. FOX ET AL 2,515,208

WHEEL BEARING PACKER Filed NOV. 5, ;L946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

Patented July 18, 1950 WHEEL BEARING PACKER Alex P. Fox and Lutwin C.Rotter, St. Louis County, Mo., assignors to Lincoln Engineering Company,St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application November 5, 1946,Serial No. 707,928

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to wheel bearing packers, that is, to devices forpacking bearings with lubricant.

Among other objects, the invention aims to provide a device which willclamp the bearing and will force lubricant into it without the necessityof manually handling the bearing. Another object is to obviate manualhandling of the lubricant so that it passes uncontaminated directly fromthe lubricant container into the bearing. still another object is toprovide means for clamping bearings which is adaptable to bearings ofdifferent sizes and types. Another object is to provide a device of thecharacter indicated which will direct the lubricant to the particularpart of the bearing adapted to receive it and will prevent the lubricantfrom flowing (during the packing operation) over parts of the bearingwhich should not be lubricated. Another object is to provide a devicewhich makes the packing of a bearing a clean and easy job, yetaccomplishes the work thoroughly. I

Other objects and advantages will be understood from the followingdetailed description, appended claims and the accompanying drawings.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in theaccompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred,although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities ofwhich the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized andthat the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements andorganizations of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In said drawings, in which like reference characters denote like partsthroughout:

Figure 1 represents a view, partly in section and partly in elevation,ofone embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 represents a longitudinal or vertical section of the embodimentof Figure 1.

Figure 3 represents a cross-section on line 3-3 of Figure 1, but on asmaller scale.

Figure 4 represents a cross-section on line 4-4 of Figure 1, on the samescale as Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an exploded View, in longitudinal section, of the the deviceof Figures 1-4, on the scale of Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 6 represents a longitudinal cross-sectional view of anotherembodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 represents a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the embodimentof Figure 6 showing the appearance of the parts when an ordinarysmall'bearing is being lubricated.

Figure 8 represents a view generally similar to that of Figure '7 butshowing the use of a special adapter for extremely small bearings.

Figure 9 represents a view generally similar to that of Figures '7 and 8but showing the use of a special adapter for lubricating ball bearings.

In Figures 1 to 5, there is shown one embodiment of the presentinvention which includes a lubricant container l0 which is a generallycylindrical body of metal or the like, with a partly closed top wall 12integral with the side walls I I. At the bottom, the walls I I arepreferably flared outwardly as at H and a base member I3 is placed inthe bottom to close the container and also to provide a stable basetherefor. To this end, base member 13 may have an annular flange l4adapted to lie contiguous to the flared skirt H and a circular endflange or pedestal l5 which is horizontal so as to rest fiat on anyordinary support or surface. End flange [5 may be curled to provide abead (not shown) if additional strength and resistance to battering aredesired. Several thumb screws It may be passed through registering holesin the flared skirt II and in the annular flange I4 and each thumb screwmay engage the tapped bore of a thimble or boss I! fixed to flange M onthe inside of the base, so that the base member is rigidly secured tothe container body but may be manually removed at any time to giveaccess to the interior of the' container body, as in refilling the same.

To force lubricant out of the upper end of the container, a piston 69 isreciprocable in the cylinder, being secured to the lower end of apistonrod 20 whose upper end is threaded as at 2| for reception of a nut22 which when turned moves the piston-rod and hence the piston up anddown. As shown, the piston 19 consists'of a metal disc '23, a cupleather 24 supported by disc 23 and in contact with the cylindricalwallsof the container, and a metal disc 25 placed inside the cup leatherto hold the sha e of the latter. The assembly of disc 23, cup leather 24and disc 25 is centrally perforated to permit the reduced, threaded end26 of the piston-rod to pass therethrough. A nut 2! screws on reducedend 26 to clamp the piston assembly I9 upon the lower end of thepiston-rod, yet to permit removal of the piston when renewal of the cupleather is necessary. A central perforation 28 (Figure 2) may beprovided in base member l3 to permit the piston l9 to lie practically atthe bottom of the container with the base member in place, which meansthat the capacity of the container is thereby increased. Perforation 28also gives access to nut '21 from the outside of the body,

permitting the piston-rod to be removed through connection between thedischarge member-and:

the top wall [2 is rigid and may be detachable,

as by means of flanges and-bolts (-ne.t-sho:wn=).,.

or permanent as by securing the peripheral edge In order:

33 of a central opening formed in said top wall 52 within an annulargroove extending around the enlargedishoulderwfl formed at the lower;end of the outlet member 3:9. The outlet mem-ber 3l3 has three or fourbores 334 drilled lengthwise is laterally outwardly- Asshown in Figure1,

an annular groove or channel 3E5, which is \/.-shaped in cross-section,extends around the.-

periphery of the discharge member and receives all the lubricant flowingout of the passageways To support the bearing -B. properly during thepacking operation, also toprovide an abutment against which thebearingmay be clamped by nut 2'2, .-and: to provide a guiding surfacefor directing the laterally discharged lubricant upwardly into thebearing, apacker assembly ismounted on the top of the container. Thepacker assembly includes ahollow shell which. embracesand.is-movablewrelative to the upper enduofthe container (but does notnecessarily have-any contact therewith) a centering, wall 41v which: isfrusto-conical to center the bearing, plus alubricant-guiding wall 42which is cylindrical and of slightly larger diameter than the dischargemember at the outlets of passageways 35, so that the laterallydischarged lubricant will strike wall 42 and be turned upwardly into thebearing. It will be clear that the passageways 34, 35. together with thelubricant-guiding wall 42 and the. upper-end of the discharge memberprovide a plurality of lubricant conduits leading to the lower end ofthe bearing B. .To-prevent escape of the lubricant between wall 42 andthe discharge member, a packing ring 43 is placed in. an annular groove44 (Figure 5) formed in the discharge member adjacent but below thedischarge ends of passageways 35. Thus a seal is always maintainedatthis point, regardless of the position of shell 40 relative to thecontainer. When. centered by wall 4!, the bearing B will rest in. parton said wall and inpart on the upper end of: the. discharge member,which has a circularend portion 45-snugly fitting spring 46..

4 in the central bore of the bearing (Figure 2'). This arrangementinhibits the flow of lubricant into said central bore, which isundesirable as will be understood. However, any. excess lubricant whichflows out of the bearing onto the frusto-conical 0r re-entrant wall 4|will tend to flow or drain toward the center orzin other words will'notdrip or flow over' tlie. top edge and sides of shell 40.

When bearings having larger inside diameters than the diameter of theportion 45 are being lubricated, the seal at the lower end of thecentral bore of the bearing is formed by the upper irusto-conical wallall-11. of the discharge memher 380; in such cases, a clearing beingprovided between the bearing and the portion 45 in a manner similarto-that, shown in Figure '7.

To hold shell"40"yi'eldingly so that it aids in a resilient clamping ofthe bearing, a compression coil spring 46 is interposed between top wall[2 and-theunderside of. shell 40L Nut 2-2-directly engagesand in factenters'the top of the bearing; B (Figure 2) and clamps the latter down:against the frusto-conicalrwall 4 1, hence acts against the If there ispractically no resistance to upward. movement of thepiston, i. e., ifthe container is empty, the spring will not be compressed, butsif thecontainer is filled with a-heavy grease, as nut 22 is tightened againstthe bearing" the entire shell 40: may move downwardly to. an extentwhich. depends uponthe strength of the spring, the physical constantsofthe lubricant, the manner in which the lubricant is-packedin the.container,

, and other factors. With the parts: designed "as against the dischargemember34-and prevents flow of. lubricant into the central. bore of thebearin thereby eliminating waste. of lubricant. Witrrthebearing B makinga seal against the discharge member 30 (either'at-the end portion 45 orat the-frustosconicalsurface- 30-0), the position-of shell 441sautomatically adjustedto one at which-the frusto-conical surface 4|seals against the bearing and remain sealed regardless of variationsinspring pressure, etc.

Three-or more studs 4:1are' fastened rtorthetop walllsby nuts 48 andextend upward therefrom and into vertical bores 48'. formed in saidshell 40;. A pair of flats-4'l--a; are milledon opposite sides ofeach-:stud- 41-; the: flats 41 -4.1, terminatingxshort ofthe upper endof said studs 41 to provide upper shoulders 41-h.

A was-her 49 is fastened by screws 50 to the undersideof shell 40 and isprovided with a plurality of slots or n-otchesfil adapted tofit over themilled intermediate portions of the studs 41. This retains theshell40-innonrrotating position relative-tothe, topwall I12 and alsoprovides an upper limit c t-movement for said shell; the shellbeings-capable of movingupward under'the force of. the: spring 46. onlyto/ the point at which the washer 49 contacts the shoulders 41-h of thestuds 41 *Since theoperation hasbeen largely explained in the foregoing,but little need be added- As. nut. 22 is turned down against the.bearing, it enters the inner race of the bearing-and: forces said. racedown againstthe seatprovided therefor on the upper'endotthedischargememben.

At the same time the shell of the bearing-is forced at one end againstthe inner race. of the bearing and at the other end-against the upperface or wall 4 I; This prevents the bearing from rotating. As thepiston-rod is moved upwardly, the piston is lifted to push against thelubricant and the latter (even if a heavy grease) is forced to flowthrough the conduits in the discharge member and out through and aroundthe peripheral groove 3.9, past the annular lip 31 formed at the top ofthe discharge member and up into the bearing, the lubricant being in theform of a hollow tube or ribbon. This hollow tube or ribbon of lubricantcannot go elsewhere than into the interior of the bearing, which isaccordingly completely packed with lubricant. The clearance between lip31 and the cylindrical wall 42 is very small and is exaggerated in thedrawings.

In Figure 6 there is shown another embodiment of the present inventionemploying two nuts, one to clamp the bearing, and the other to serve asa handle for the piston in order to force lubricant out of the containerand into the bearing. The container is shown at 60 and is a straighttube with screw threads BI, 62 on the outside at opposite ends. An endmember 83 is screwed on threads 62 and is connected to pistonrod 64 bymeans of a bushing 65 and a lock nut 61 threaded on nut 66. Lock nut 61engages the end member 63 on the inside so as to clamp the end memberagainst a circular shoulder 68 on nut 66 outside of the end member.Piston-rod 64 is rotatable in a bore 69 in bushing 65. The

outer end of the bushing has an enlarged head "I0 with a recess 'IIadapted to receive part of a wing-nut I2 fixed by a nut I3 to thethreaded extremity of the piston-rod 64. Nut 66 extends beyond lock nut6'! on the inside of the container and provides a recess I4 for thereception of a stop '15, here in the form of a nut which is turned tighton the end of threads 16 on the piston-rod, hence is rotatable with thepiston-rod. The stopnut 15 prevents any outward travel of the pistonrodrelative to the container, while inward travel is obviated by engagementof the wing-nut or handle 12 with recess II. A piston consisting of adisc I1 of packing material, backed on each face by metal discs I8, 19,is reciprocable in the container because it has a central nut 80engaging the threads I6. Nut 80 has a shoulder 8I engaging one of thediscs I8, and a lock nut 82 is threaded on nut 80 to tighten and unifythe assembly of the discs 11, I8, I9,'which together make up the piston.Packing disc 'I'! has a sliding fit, in the cylindrical container but isgrease-- tight.= The described piston will travel almost theentirelength of the container to expel nearly its entire contents, whenwing-nut I2 is used as a handle .to rotate the piston rod in the properdirection. To prevent the piston from running off the end of the threadon the piston-rod, the opposite end of the container may have apistonstep in the form of a bead or flange 84, which may be formed byspinning or otherwise.

At the same end of the container, a bearingsupporting member 85(generally like member 40) having a frusto-conical upper face 86 issupported by a compression coil spring 81 whose other end is received ina discharge member 88. Here the discharge member ,88 closes the end ofthe container and is screwed on threads .6 I, with a pack.- ingring 89to seal the joint. Packing ring 89 may be held in place by a circularlip 90. At its center the discharge member 88 has a tubular xt n i niflrprov d ns r rt. of. a lub ica c m;

duit which is relatively large. A second dis-charger: member 92 isscrewed as at 93 to the inside walls, of tubular extension 9| so as tobe rigidly secured thereto. The lubricant flows out through several,radial bores or passageways 94 which discharge; into a peripheral orannular groove or channel 95 which is like the groove or channel 36. Thecircular lip 96 on discharge member 92 has a small clearance inside ofcylindrical wall 91 (on the bearing-supporting member to permit thepreviously described tube or ribbon of lubricant to flow outwardly andinto the bearing, not shown. The bearing is clamped by a wing-nut: 98threaded on a screw threaded shaft 99 which is rigidly secured to thedischarge member 92, for instance by means of a reduced screw threadedend I00 engaged with threads in a boss IIII integral with dischargemember 92. A lock nut I02 on the reduced end I00 bearsagainst theunderside of the end wall I03 of the discharge member. Turning ofwing-nut 98 will therefore not effect turning of shaft 99 or thedischarge member 92. A packing ring I04, which is of the free floatingtype, may provide a lubricant seal between the movable bearing-support85 and the stationary tubular extension 9I of the discharge member 88..Shaft 99 is removed when desired by turning its; milled, flattened outerend I05 by means of, a; wrench, after removing lock nut I02. The embodiment of Figure 6 is a portable unit, is a little more rugged thanthe form of Figure 1 and is net; quite as sensitive to movements of thenut, but basically it is the same. In Figure 8 there is shown a furthermodification of the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7 where in a dishedfrusto-conical adapter I I0 is provided: intermediate the face 86 andthe bearing, where extremely small size bearings are employed. That is,where bearings so small that they do not extend beyond the surface 92a,are employed, it is obvious that no outer seal could be made between thebearing and the face 86. To overcomethisj. the adapter III] isconstructed so that its upper frusto-conical sealing surface extendsinwards be yond the face 86 and permits contact with the outer edge ofeven small-size bearings, as indicated in Figure 8. -In Figure 9 thereis shown a further modifica-f tion of the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7which permits lubrication of ball-bearings. In this embodiment, a dishedadapter I I I is mounted upon the face 86 to provide anupperfrustoconical surface II2 which converges inwardlyrelative to; thetapered surface II3 of the nut '98 so as to" permit lubrication of afull range of different-size ball-bearings BB. Since these ball-bearingsdo: not have the central bore which forms part of roller bearings,tightening of the nut 98 resultsin' clamping of the ball-bearingintermediate said' nut and the adapter 2; centering being provided bythe surface II3 of the nut 98. j

Figure 7 shows the upper end of the embodi-J ment of Figure 6 as itappears when a conventional small bearing is being lubricated; it beingapparent that the inner bore of the bearing is sealed against flow oflubricant thereinto by the frusto-conical surface 92-11 of the dischargemember 92 so that lubricant is forced only into the roller'mountingportion of the bearing.

Fom the foregoing description, it is apparent that the novel wheelbearing packer of the pres-. ent invention permits the prompt andeffective v lubrication of wheel bearings or the like, without waste oflubricant resulting from filling up of, the central bore in the bearingandthereby at;

animate for'de substantial. commercial" advantages: over wheel bearingpackers heretofore employed, where-in considerable lubrication wasusually wasted' byibeing introduced into' the central bore oii'ith'e:bear ings, where it is not needed.

The presentinvention may be embodied in other specific forms withou tdeparting from the spiritor' essentialattributes thereof, and it isthereiere desired 1 aha-t the present embodiments be considered in allrespects-as illustrative and not restrictive; reference being had to theap= pended claims rather thanto the foregoing-die: scriptionto" indicatethe: scope of theinvention.

'H'aving described our invention, what we claim asnew' and desire'toprotest by Letters Patent is =1; Apparatusiorpackingbearings withlubricantincluding a lubricant-container; a lubricantexpel ling 'pistonreciprocable in the lubricant-- container, api'ston rodsecured' to thepiston-and having screwthreadson one end thereof, a nut threaded on saidscrew threads, a'bearing-supporting "member, compression coil springinterposed between the bearing-supporting-member and that'endofthecontainer towards which the piston moves to discharge lubricant;said bearingsupporting-member embracing and movable relans/etc saidcontainer end, the nut being adapted to clam'pabearing against thebearing-supporting"member, and conduit means to conduct lubricantfromtheinterior of the container through the" bearing-supporting member to abearing clamped thereon. I

2. .Apparatus for packing hearingswith lubricant :including a"lubricant-container, alubricant exnellingpiston' reciprocable in thelubri cant-container, a piston-rodsecured'to thepiston .andiextendingoutside of the container having screw threads on the en'dwhich' isoutside of the container, .a nut threaded 'on said screw threads; adischarge" member having lubricant "conduits therethrough and fixed tothe' lubricant-con tain'er with saidconduits 'open to the interior ofthe container;said discharge'member being principally outside ofthecontainer and having means onits' outer end forfitting into the centralbore of a'bearing', and a bearing-supporting member surrounding thedischarge member and having a central cylindrical wall providinglubricant-guiding'means and so disposed as to receive all lubri cantdischarged from said conduits by pressure from'saidpiston; the nut andbearing-supporting member together clamping the bearing-Which is to bepacked.

3; Apparatus for packing bearings with -1ubri-' can't including-alubricant-container, a lubricantexpelli'n'g piston" reciprocable in thelubricant container; 9;. piston-trod secured to the piston 'andextending. outside of'th'e container and having screw 'thread'son theend which isouts'ide, a nut threaded on said'screw threads and'adaptedto are'open to the-interior of-the' containenthe other" end ofthe dischargem'ember being outside of the containeri and having aperipheral v-sh aped groove-or channel into whichgthe conduitsdi-scharge, and a bearing-supporting member surroundingthe dischargemember 'and-"hav-i ng a central cylindrical wall which isclose-to thepelfihh'eral grooveor channel but i sufficiently: sQaud Hornthdischarge-member to permits? WWIW-ribbUWQF111ibri1=a11t-tMrav1 sis downae'ainsta bearinesunperted'en said-bellow cylindrical wfalk and; into: abeairing-on the'bearing-- supporting. member;

:4. Apparatus Toripacking bearings withriubricant inclndingaslubricantcontainer, a lubricant exp'ell'ings piston reciprocable inthe lubricant container;aapiston-rod secured to the pistonand extending.outside of the container and having screw "threads on :the i end whichis -outs'ide, a nut threadedon said serew thr'eads, a discharge memberifi xe'clnto the container with the screw threadeden'd ofthegpiston-rod passing therethrough; con (nuts in said diseha'rgexmember"which are open to'the interior of/the container, a hollow she'lladapted to support abearing and havingone' eridembracing; :and I movableover the container and havinga central cylindrical .wall which Yembraces the discharge member,joint packing between the dischargemernberand the centrah cylindrical wall to permit the hollows he11-to-slidrelative to the container and the discharge member but to pr'e-' ventundesirabl-e'flow :of lubrieant -and a compr'es sion coil spring within-:the holl'owlshel l and-bearing at oneend:against-the-container and atthe other end againstan inside w-al l' oi the hollow shell; said 'sprigyieldin g'to pressure from the nut when screwed dcwn'against a bearingsupported on said h-ol-l'ow shells 5. Apparatus for ,packingbearings'with lubris cant includingaslubricant-container,a-lubricantexpelling piston reciprocable thelubricant container; a :pistowrodsecured to-the-piston andextendingoutside of the co l-itaginer having screw threads-entire end which isoutside; a nut threaded on said screw threads; a'discharge mern berfixed to the container-with the screw threaded end or thepiston-rodpassing *theretlirough," con-- d-ui'ts "insaid-dischargemember which are open to the: interior of the con tainer and whichdischarge-laterally outwardly, a hollow shell adapted to supportabearing and having 'one end 'embrac ingand-movable over thecontainerand having a central cylindrical wall which slidingl-y-embraces thedischarge member,-: a compression-coil spring with-inthehollowsheil:and'bearing against said shell and against the: containerto tend: to hold the shell spaced from the -=cont-ainer except atsaidembracingend said spring yielding to pres sure fromth anutwheri'scre'wed down against abear-ing supported on said :holl'ow shell,displacement ofi=thepiston by the nut eflectingfiowof lubricant throughsaidconduitsand out against-thecylindrical wall of the hollow shell, thebearing being sasupported by the hollowshell as tore-'- cei-veall-thelubricantflowing out of the conduits andpast said; cylindricalwalla 6-. Apparatus-foripacking bearings'witlf 1ub'ri-' cant including alubricant container, a lubricantexpelling: piston recipro'cable in thelubricantcontainer-3a piston-rod secured to the pistonan d' extendingoutsideo'f the: container and'having screwthreads on-ythe end which isoutside, a nut threaded on' said screw'threads; a discharge member"fixed to the container-with the screw threaded end -udf thpiston-rodpassing there'- through, conduit'sinsaiddischarge member which are-opento the-interior of the container and one end} embracing and movable overthe comtainer, a comp'ressibn coil -'spring"within the hollowshell andbearingagainst it andthe ccntainer' to-5tend to" hold the shell spacedfrom the 0011- tainer excep't at said embracing end, said springyielding to pressure 'fii'ii the-nut when screwedshell, displacement ofthe piston by the nut effecting flow of lubricant through and out ofsaid conduits into the bearing, and means secured to the container andhaving sliding engagement with 1 the hollow shell to permit movement ofthe hollow shell relative to the container but to prevent rotation ofthe hollow shell.

7. Apparatus for packing bearings with lubricant comprising a generallycylindrical lubricant container, a lubricant-expelling piston movablymounted within said container, means for manually moving said pistonwithin said container thereby to driv lubricant therefrom underpressure, a sealing member axially telescopically mounted adjacent thedischarge end of said container, said sealing member being normallyspring-urged to outermost extended position and having a frusto-conicalsealing face adapted to make contact with the outer periphery of abearing or the like, a fixed annular sealing surface disposed centrallyof said sealing face with a peripheral lubricant passageway formedtherebetween, said fixed annular sealing surface being adapted tocontact and close off the central bore of the bearing and an adjustablebearing clamp adapted to make centering contact with th opp'osite end ofsaid bearing and to force it firmly against said fixed annular sealingsurface and also against the frusto-conical sealing face and to movesaid sealing member to retracted position, thereby to permit lubricantto be forced into said bearing during operation of said piston.

8. In a wheel bearing packer for filling roller bearings or th like, atelescopically mounted sealing member normally spring-urged to outermostextended position and having an annular frusto-conical sealing surfaceadapted to make contact with the outer periphery of a bearing to belubricated, a fixed annular sealing surface disposed centrally of theannular sealing surface of said member, said inner sealing surface beingadapted to contact and close ofi' th central bore of said bearing, anadjustable nut adapted to be tightened against the opposite end of saidbearing thereby to force said bearing against said fixed inner sealingsurface and also against said sealing member thereby to move saidsealing member to retracted position, and means for forcing lubricantunder pressure into the annular space intermediat the peripheral zonesof contact of said bearing with said frusto-conical sealing surface andwith said fixed inner sealing surface, thereby to force said lubricantinto the roller-mounting portion of said bearing without entering thecentral bore of said bearing.

9. In a wheel bearing packer for filling roller bearings or the like, agenerally cylindrical lubricant container, a lubricant-expelling pistonmovably mounted within said container, a piston-rod connected to saidpiston and protruding from one end of said cylindrical container, anoperating handle mounted upon the protruding end of said piston-rod topermit manual movement of the piston within said cylindrical container,a discharge member mounted upon the other end of said container andhaving a fixed annular sealing surface, an axially-movable membermounted upon said discharge member in telescopic relationship thereto,said movable member being normally spring-urged to axially outermostposition relative to said discharge member and having an annularfrustoconical sealing surface, said frustoconical sealing surface beingsomewhat radially spaced from the fixed annular sealing surface toprovide an annular lubricant passageway communicating with saidlubricantcontainer, and an adjustabl bearing clamp mounted upon saiddischarge member and constructed and arranged to make centering contactwith the opposite end of the bearing and to force it axially inward,whereby the fixed annular sealing surface is maintained in fluid-tightcontact with the inner periphery of the bearing so as to close off thecentral bore of the bearing and whereby the frustoconical sealingsurface is maintained in resiliently yielding fluid-tight contact withthe outer periphery of the bearing.

ALEX P. FOX. LU'I'WIN C. ROTTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,024,673 Bowen Apr. 30, 19121,283,628 Beach Nov. 5, 1918 2,168,746 Saal Aug. 8, 1939 2,187,608 KroppJan. 16, 1940 2,396,124 Pitisci Mar. 5, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 495,468 Great Britain Feb. 8, 1937

